By Martin Hutchinson

HE is a singing legend whose career spans half a century.

Music icon Engelbert Humperdinck is returning to the UK for a short series of concerts, calling in at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, on Sunday, May 31.

The 78-year old, whose hits include Release Me, A Man Without Love and The Last Waltz, says he is recovering from a bout of bronchitis.

He said: "Yes, I had to cancel a couple of concerts, but it’s on its way out now.

“I recently went to Canada and it was really cold which brought it on. Cher had a problem with it too.”

Engelbert has had a number of awards bestowed upon him over the years, including a star on the Hollywood Hall of Fame and the Honorary Freedom of Leicester — where he grew up — and says he has accomplished everything he has wanted to do.

He said: "There’s nothing else I really want to do with my career.

“I’ve been satisfied in the way my career journey has taken me. I’ve released lots of albums and sold 150 million. I also lived in the era where you could enjoy your recording career.”

His most recent album was released last year and is a collection of duets with fellow music stars, entitled Engelbert Calling.

He said: "The album came about after a phone call with Elton John where I asked him if he would like to record a duet and he immediately said ‘yes’, he’s a wonderful artist.

“Then the idea developed and I wanted to make it into an album that could be popular around the world and the artists involved include Sir Cliff Richard, Olivia Newton-John, Lulu and Neil Sedaka.”

He also hooked up with Gene Simmons, from American hard rock band Kiss, for the album.

Engelbert, who was at the top of the charts when BBC Radio One started broadcasting in September 1967, said: “It was a great thrill to work with Gene."

This tour marks the 50th anniversary of The Hump, as he is affectionately known, starting his career and he says there have been many highlights.

He said: "My first single, which was Release Me, stopped The Beatles from getting their 13th number one.”

The flip side of Release Me — entitled Ten Guitars — is also very special to him.

He said: "It’s like the National Anthem of New Zealand, it seems that everyone over the age of three knows it and when I play there I have to sing it three times at every show.”

His Manchester show will feature support act Sam Bailey, who wowed millions of viewers with her vocal talents to win The X Factor in 2013.

Engelbert said: "I’ll be doing all my hits as the songs I recorded are so popular and there are a lot of standards.

“Plus I’ll be singing some songs off the new album which will include a ‘virtual’ duet with Elton John and also a bit of variety away from my repertoire.”

He was due to tour the UK last year but was unable to due to illness.

He said: “I caught the flu and I was travelling everywhere wearing surgical masks on the planes.

“But I love performing in the UK because it’s home to me. I’m just a bloke from Leicester and I enjoy meeting and speaking to the people I meet.”